US director of national intelligence James Clapper resigns

The United States director of national intelligence James Clapper has resigned, the first top level official in the Obama Administration to quit, as the Donald Trump administration readies to take office.

Dir of National Intelligence James Clapper speaks at a House Intelligence Comm. Photo:AP

The United States director of national intelligence James Clapper has resigned, the first top level official in the Obama Administration to quit, as the Donald Trump administration readies to take office.

"I submitted my letter of resignation last night, which felt pretty good," US' top spymaster told members of the House Intelligence Committee during a Congressional hearing today.

"I have 64 days left and I would have a hard time with my wife for anything past that," said Clapper.

His resignation was expected as he had earlier expressed his intention to leave the position at the end of the second and last term of outgoing US President Barack Obama.

Republican Trump, who won the November 8 presidential election, would be sworn in as the 45th US President on January 20, 2017.

In response to questions, Clapper did testify that a notice from the Obama administration to the Russian government over cyber attacks during the election period, "seemed to have curtailed the cyber activity that the Russians were previously engaged in did reduce the cyber activity."

Clapper has held the job since August 2010.

He was previously a lieutenant general in the Air Force and director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Clapper's job was to coordinate the work of 17 different agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.